Notes on the Notes – October 22, 2023

Homecoming Sunday/65th Anniversary of Windsor Park United Church

“Come In, Come in and Sit Down” (VU #395)

“Come in, come in and sit down,
You are a part of the family.
We are lost and we are found,
And we are a part of the family.

You know the reason why you came,
Yet no reason can explain;
So share in the laughter and cry in the pain,
For we are a part of the family.

God is with us in this place,
Like a mother’s warm embrace.
We’re all forgiven by God’s grace,
For we are a part of the family.

There’s life to be shared in the bread and the wine,
We are the branches, Christ is the vine.
This is God’s temple, it’s not yours or mine,
But we are a part of the family.

There’s rest for the weary and health for us all;
There’s a yoke that is easy, and a burden that’s small.
So come in and worship and answer the call,
For we are a part of the family.”

This song became known to United Church congregations in the arrangement made by Darryl Nixon for the hymn book supplement Songs for a Gospel People (1987). Singer songwriter James K. Manley, the composer of this hymn, is a minister in the United Church of Christ (USA). “Part of the Family” reminds both members and visitors that our congregation is an open, diverse group that welcomes people of all ages, every marital status, and all views, interest levels, and stages in the faith journey.

Hear the hymn sung by Strathroy United Church at:  https://youtu.be/gIz4FQYBF04

“This is God’s Wondrous World” (VU #296)

“This is God’s wondrous world, and to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is God’s wondrous world; I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas, God’s hand the wonders wrought.

This is God’s wondrous world:  the birds their carols raise;
The morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise.
This is God’s wondrous world:  God shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass or mountain pass, God’s voice speaks everywhere.

This is God’s wondrous world:  O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.
This is God’s wondrous world:
Why should my heart be sad?
Let voices sing, let the heavens ring:
God reigns, let earth be glad.”

This hymn is often recognized as the old CGIT (Christian Girls in Training) hymn,  altered for inclusiveness from the original “This is My Father’s World.”   It has helped shaped the creation spirituality of many people.  The text is adapted from a poem published in a collection of Maltbie Davenport Babcock’s work entitled Thoughts for Everyday Living (1901).  The origin of the tune is unknown.  It was adapted to the hymn text by Stanley Oliver, organist at St. James United in Montreal,  in 1929 and the hymn was published in Songs of Worship (1930) and The Hymnary (1930).

Hear an instrumental arrangement of this hymn tune at:  https://youtu.be/OCKTYwjPhLs

Hear the song with saxophone and guitar at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7InRATds5k

“I Thank You, O My God”

“I thank you, O my God,
I thank you, O my God,
I love you every day,
I claim you every way.

I give my life to you,
O great, holy God,
I give to you my all:
My heart and my soul.
It is not hard to do,
To give you everything,
All precious stones or gold;
To you my heart will sing.

The only prayer I know that you, God, will acclaim:
From deep within my heart I sing praise to your name!
For you are all I need, and this my only task,
Yes, this is all I ask.”

This song, known originally in Tagalog as “Salamat Sa Iyo,” is well-loved in the Filipino Christian community.  The English paraphrase is by Bruce Harding and the Filipino community of Knox United Church in Winnipeg.  The song is one of the sample pieces from the United Church’s new hymnal project, “Then Let Us Sing!” which is coming for the centennial of The United Church of Canada.  Throughout the next 3 months we will be sampling some of the music and sharing our feedback with the team putting the resource together.

Hear the song in Tagalog at: https://youtu.be/dhYK8sSbzXQ

“Grant Us, God, the Grace of Giving” (VU #540)

“Grant Us, God, the grace of giving,
With a spirit large and free,
That ourselves and all our living
We may offer faithfully.”

The text of our offering response comes from the Mennonite hymn book, “Hymnal: a Worship Book.” The tune is a familiar one which is also used for the Advent hymn “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”  (VU #2).

“Faithful God, You Have Been Our Guide”

“Faithful God, you have been our guide, year by year walking by our side,
Blessing challenge and healing strife, leading us on the way of life.
Faithful God of the living covenant, lead us onward in this new day.
Faithful God of the living covenant, lead us onward in this new day.

You have called us to be a light, sign of justice and truth and right.
You have made us a rainbow sign, colours showing your peace design.
Faithful God of the living covenant, lead us onward in this new day.
Faithful God of the living covenant, lead us onward in this new day.

God, whatever the future holds, keep us faithful as life unfolds.
Write your covenant on our hearts; send the gifts that your love imparts.
Faithful God of the living covenant, lead us onward in this new day.
Faithful God of the living covenant, lead us onward in this new day.”

This hymn was written by Ruth Duck in 1995 for the celebration the 125th anniversary of Covenant United Methodist Church in Evanston, Illinois.  Expressing a theology of covenant, it grew out of stories about the church’s history.  As Windsor Park United Church celebrates 65 years in the community, the words remind us that God has been with us along our journey and continues to be with us into the future.  It is sung to the tune, LINSTEAD, which is a Jamaican tune adapted by Doreen Potter for use with Fred Kaan’s text “Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ” (VU #468)

“Sent Out in Jesus’ Name” (MV #212)

“Sent out in Jesus’ name, our hands are ready now
To make the world the place in which the kingdom comes.

The angels cannot change a world of hurt and pain
Into a world of love, of justice and of peace.
The task is ours to do, to set it really free.
O, help us to obey, and carry out your will.

Sent out in Jesus’ name, our hands are ready now
To make the world the place in which the kingdom comes.”

The words and music are from the traditional song, Enviado soy de Dios, from Cuba.  The English translation is by Jorge Maldonado, who also arranged the song for More Voices in 2007.  As we leave worship, we are reminded that we are Christ’s hands in the world.